co Sforza. But Bentivogli repurchased the forfeited French
protection at the price of 40,000 ducats, and so escaped the impending
danger; whilst Venice, it happened, was growing concerned to see no
profit accruing to herself out of this league with France and Rome; and
that was a matter which her trader spirit could not brook. Therefore,
Venice intervened in the matter of Rimini and Faenza, which she
protected in somewhat the same spirit as the dog protected the straw in
the manger. Next, when, having conquered the Milanese, Louis XII turned
his thoughts to the conquest of Naples, and called upon Venice to march
with him as became a good ally, the Republic made it quite clear that
she was not disposed to move unless there was to be some profit to
herself. She pointed out that Mantua and Ferrara were in the same case
as Bologna, for having failed to lend assistance to the French in the
hour of need, and proposed to Louis XII the conquest and division of
those territories.

Thus matters stood, and Cesare had perforce to await the conclusion
of the Pisan War in which the French were engaged, confident, however,
that, once that was at an end, Louis, in his anxiety to maintain
friendly relations with the Pope, would be able to induce Venice to
withdraw her protection from Rimini and Faenza. So much accomplished for
him, he was now in a position to do the rest without the aid of French
troops if necessary. The Jubilee--protracted for a further year, so vast
and continuous was the concourse of the faithful, 200,000 of whom knelt
in the square before St. Peter's on Easter Day to receive the Pope's
blessing--was pouring vast sums of money into the pontifical coffers,
and for money men were to be had in plenty by a young condottiero whose
fame had been spreading ever since his return from the Romagna. He was
now the hope of the soldiers of fortune who abounded in Italy, attracted
thither from all quarters by the continual opportunities for employment
which that tumultuous land afforded.

It is in speaking of him at about this time, and again praising his
personal beauty and fine appearance, that Capello says of him that, if
he lives, he will be one of Italy's greatest captains.

Such glimpses as in the pages of contemporary records we are allowed
of Cesare during that crowded time of the Papal Jubilee are slight and
fleeting. On April 13 we see him on horseback accompanying the Pope
through Rome in the cavalcade that visited th